Biography

James is a Solicitor in the Real Estate Disputes team at our Sheffield office.

James is experienced in advising businesses, charities, other institutions and individuals on a full range of real estate disputes.

These include:

Disputes about breaches of contract
Break options
Boundaries
Business lease renewals
Dilapidations
Easements
Equitable interests in land
Forfeiture
Freehold and leasehold covenants
Public rights of way
Recovering possession of property
Removal of trespassers and service charges.

James advises and represents clients at all stages of a dispute as well as giving advice to help avoid disputes in the first place. He is a strong proponent of alternative dispute resolution, and regularly attends mediations and other settlement meetings for his clients. He is also an experienced advocate who represents his clients at a wide variety of Court hearings.

Recent Highlights:

Siddiqui and Ullah v Leila Rahman (acting by her LPA receivers) [Unreported, February 2018] – Represented the successful LPA receivers for the defendant commercial landlord in opposing the tenants’ lease renewal claim

PT v WPL [Unreported, May 2018] – Represented the successful tenant of a high value penthouse flat in Central London. Helped them claim for declaratory relief against their landlord relating to the interpretation of the client’s lease, alleged breaches of the lease and service charges.

Represented the developer of a mixed use scheme in Norfolk in defending a claim for obstruction of a right of way over and a right to park on the client’s development. Resolved at mediation, resulting in a settlement enabling the client to proceed with their development plans.

Acted for the owners of a commercial dairy farm in successful High Court proceedings under Paragraph 12 of Schedule 15 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. This was to quash a definitive map modification order made by the surveying authority in relation to an alleged public right of way through the farm (the existence of which is disputed).